Dicentra received a message and started eating rapidly, as if there were no tomorrow. "What happened? Eat slowly!" Taylah said, handing her a glass of water when she choked on her food.
"I overslept because I drank too much last night. The hangover is killing me. Damn, I'm going to get scolded by Louis... today is going to be the worst," Dicentra replied, shoving the last bite of breakfast into her mouth as she hurried to her room to get ready for work.
After ten minutes, she emerged in casual attire. "I'm heading to work. Make sure to eat your lunch properly. I'll ask Louis about the job," she said, hugging Taylah.
"Okay!" Taylah laughed gently.
Dicentra slipped on her heels and dashed out the door like she was in a marathon.
A day spent indoors felt unbearably boring for Taylah. She lacked the courage to attend classes, leaving her education incomplete.
After a week, Taylah started working at Louis's bar. She wore an eye mask to ensure that no one could recognize her, even up close.
The following days were peaceful, free from the scolding and bullying she had faced before. Louis paid her a fair salary, enough for her to support herself if she ever left Dicentra's house, but Dicentra wouldn't let her go.
They grew closer, almost like childhood friends, along with Louis. It felt like a dream for Taylah—an ideal life she wished she could hold on to forever.
Dicentra attended her classes as usual, while Taylah went to work. At night, Dicentra often accompanied Taylah, enjoying every moment spent with her and Louis.
However, Taylah was haunted by dreams of being caught by her father and punished cruelly. Despite leaving everything behind, those nightmares clung to her, and the memories of that night remained vivid and inescapable.
One night, she jerked awake, sitting up on the couch and rubbing her face with her hands. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she shuddered in place. His voice echoed in her mind, preventing her from finding peace. All she ever wanted was to sleep soundly, if only just once and for all.
It had been a month and a half since Taylah left her house and began staying with Dicentra under a new identity. Yet, the haunting voice and words from that day still made her shiver. She couldn't shake the memories of that night.
Suddenly, her heart raced with palpitations, and she gasped, wiping the sweat from her forehead and taking a deep breath.
She sighed softly; it was already past 8 PM, and she needed to get ready for her shift at the bar. But Dicentra hadn't come home to accompany her.
Rising from the sofa, she walked to the shower. As the water cascaded over her, she reflected on her past. The past month and a half had allowed her to forget and start anew, but the trauma still lingered in her mind, refusing to be erased.
After stepping out of the shower, Taylah put on her work clothes, which were tight enough to accentuate her curves. Initially, she wasn't fond of such dresses, but she had grown accustomed to her new life.
She applied eyeshadow to highlight her highly pigmented silvery eyes. To add a sparkle to her cheeks, she used a dusting of gold highlighter on her cheekbones. Next, she added an extra layer of crimson color to her lips with Color Sensational lipstick, finishing her pout by defining the bow of her lips with Color Sensational Lip Liner in 'Pink Pearl.' With her makeup, she looked like a model.
Although she usually avoided makeup due to her sensitive skin, Louis had encouraged her to wear some for her job at the bar. Even with just a plain eye mask, her eyes had a captivating quality that could attract anyone.
Taylah arrived at the bar, where Louis was waiting for her.
"You're here already," he said, walking towards her. "You look stunning with that makeup. Everyone will fall for your captivating eyes. You're truly a beauty, Taylah." He added a playful tease.
"You're flattering me," she replied, smiling and feeling a slight blush creep onto her cheeks.
"But where's Dicentra? Isn't she coming with you?" Louis asked, glancing around.
"No, she didn't come. I'm not sure why. I called her, but there was no answer," Taylah said, tucking her hair behind her ear.
"But today she has a customer. What should I do now?" he said, pacing nervously.
"If you don't mind, can I take her place? I don't have much work today, and I can work extra hours after the customer leaves," she offered in a low voice.
"But it's different from your usual work, Taylah. You can't manage them, and you'll have to stay with the customer until they leave the bar. It's a VIP room filled with men from wealthy families. What if they misbehave?" he urged, trying to explain.
"It's okay, I'll manage," she smiled reassuringly.
He sighed, clearly worried. "Alright, but before you go to the room, make sure to wear your mask. Try to keep your distance from the customer," he cautioned. If it were Dicentra, he wouldn't be as concerned since she knew how to handle situations like this, but Taylah was new to this kind of work.
Taylah nodded and walked away from Louis. She headed to the room assigned to her to change her outfit. She touched up her makeup and adjusted her dress, which hugged her body tightly. It was constricting, but she had to wear it. The dress accentuated her cleavage and legs, making her feel exposed. Finally, she put on the mask that Louis had specially prepared for her, transforming her into a seductive, breathtaking beauty.
Taylah took a deep breath as she grasped the wine bottle in her hand and approached the VIP room. She opened the door without looking inside. "Here's your drink, gentlemen," she announced, placing the wine bottle on the glass table and reaching for a glass to pour.
"She has a good figure," one man whispered to another, but the second man remained silent, focused on his drink. Taylah still couldn't see them clearly.
"Hey, girl... pour the wine for me," one of the men called, extending his glass toward her. As she poured the wine, he shamelessly tried to touch her breasts, but she quickly backed away, avoiding his advance.
When she turned around, Taylah was shocked to see Arjan sitting next to another man. He was idly playing with his wine glass, seemingly uninterested in drinking.
Fear gripped her as her body began to tremble by the past trauma he left on her. What if he recognized her? He would surely hand her over to her family, and memories of the torture she had endured at home flooded her mind.
In her panic, wine spilled onto Arjan. "I'm... I'm terribly sorry, sir. I was careless," she stammered, apologizing quickly.
"How dare you, bitch!" the man next to Arjan growled angrily. But Arjan stopped him with a gesture.
"Please, give me your coat, sir. I'll clean it and return it to you," she said politely, trying to mask her nervousness with a smile, though her heart raced as if it might explode.
"No need," Arjan replied, getting up from the couch and adjusting his coat. He looked at her with a penetrating gaze that made her uncomfortable. His eyes lingered on her curves, and it felt as though he was undressing her with his gaze.
"Let's go together," the man said, adjusting his coat as he stood up. "You can go first; I have some unfinished work," Arjan replied, giving him a friendly pat. "Enjoy your time, buddy," the man said with a cunning smile before leaving the room.
Taylah looked down, avoiding Arjan's gaze.
"I wonder how you look without that mask. Trying to hide yourself under it?" he said, taking a few steps closer to her.
Taylah stood stiffly in place, trembling in fear.